The Younger Gods. David Eddings

are you going to keep the bugs from smoking you out again like they did down in Crystal Gorge?’ Rabbit asked.

      ‘Veltan and I can take care of that if it’s necessary,’ Dahlaine said, ‘but I don’t think the bugs will try that again. The prevailing wind down there comes in out of the east, and if they tried greasy smoke again, that wind would blow it right back in their faces.’

      ‘The Vlagh almost has to be desperate this time, big brother,’ Veltan said. ‘The other three regions have been blocked off, so this is the only way left. If she doesn’t win this time, she’ll spend the rest of eternity trapped out there in the Wasteland. She’ll do almost anything to get her servants past you.’

      ‘We’ll have to make sure that she doesn’t succeed then, little brother,’ Dahlaine said quite firmly.

      It was somewhat later, and all of the outlanders had gone to their beds. Zelana and her brothers lingered in the map room, however. All three of them were quite certain that they’d soon be getting more instructions. Longbow had also remained behind, but he didn’t say exactly why.

      It was perhaps midnight when the door opened and Balacenia and her glowing, mist-covered companion joined them on the balcony. ‘One of you will have to go to sister Aracia’s temple with Sorgan,’ the misty lady told them.

      ‘I’ll take care of that,’ Veltan volunteered. ‘Aracia thinks of me as an immature creature without much of a brain, so she won’t pay any attention to me.’

      ‘That’s not a bad idea, Veltan,’ the lady said. ‘Keep a very close eye on Aracia. She’s right on the verge of going to pieces, and if her brain flies apart, you’ll need to tell Zelana and Dahlaine about it. The three of you might need to step on her to keep her from breaking the rules. We don’t want to lose her.’

      Longbow was standing off to one side, and he had a peculiarly startled expression on his face.

      Then, after Balacenia and her glowing companion had left the large room, the usually grim-faced archer suddenly began to laugh.

      ‘What’s so funny, Longbow?’ Zelana asked.

      ‘Nothing all that important,’ he replied. But then he laughed again.

      Zelana found that to be very irritating, but she wasn’t sure just exactly why.

       3

      Early the next morning the assorted armies were preparing to march, and Longbow joined Zelana near the mouth of Dahlaine’s cave. ‘It might save a bit of time if Chief Old-Bear knows that the Maag longships are coming,’ he suggested.

      Zelana smiled. ‘You’d like to have me fly on down there to let him know, I take it?’

      ‘If it’s not too much trouble,’ Longbow replied.

      ‘And if it is?’

      ‘Do it anyway.’

      ‘Longbow!’ Zelana exclaimed. ‘Are you actually giving me orders now?’

      ‘Let’s just call it a strong suggestion.’

      ‘That means the same thing, doesn’t it?’

      ‘Approximately, yes, but it’s more polite.’

      ‘Things might go more smoothly for you if you’d learn how to smile.’

      ‘The air’s very cold right now, Zelana,’ he replied. ‘Smiling when it’s cold is hard on one’s teeth.’

      ‘Did Dahlaine have time to take a look at that worn-down mountain range off to the east for you?’

      Longbow nodded. ‘His thunderbolt took him on down there at first light this morning,’ he said. ‘When he came back, he told us that we wouldn’t have any trouble.’

      ‘Who are you taking with you when you veer off from the main army?’

      ‘Mostly the local hunters,’ he replied. ‘Kathlak will lead the Tonthankans, and Two-Hands will bring the Matans. Ekial and the Malavi horse-soldiers will go with us as well. Actually, that was Narasan’s suggestion. He’s going to need his ships to carry his army down to the mouth of Long-Pass, and the Malavi don’t like to ride in ships. They’ll probably be more useful at the upper end of Long-Pass anyway.’

      ‘Things should go quite smoothly for you and your people,’ Zelana said. ‘That’s unless you get caught in a blizzard, of course.’

      ‘I think your older brother’s going to take care of that,’ Longbow replied. ‘He’s very good at dealing with the weather.’

      ‘How far is it from where you and your men will turn south to the upper end of Long-Pass?’ Zelana asked.

      ‘If Dahlaine’s map is accurate, it’s about a hundred and sixty miles,’ Longbow said. ‘I’m sure we’ll be able to cover thirty miles a day, and that puts us about five and a half days out. We’ll be there before Narasan’s ships drop him off at the lower end of the pass. I’m sure that we’ll be able to keep the Creatures of the Wasteland out of the upper end of the pass.’

      ‘That’s all that really matters, I suppose,’ Zelana said.

      Just then Sorgan and Narasan came out of Dahlaine’s cave. ‘Don’t worry about a thing, Narasan,’ Sorgan was saying. ‘I’ll keep Lady Zelana’s sister so busy that the notion of causing you any problems won’t even cross her mind.’

      ‘I appreciate that, my friend,’ Narasan replied. ‘If I never see Lady Zelana’s sister again, it’ll be about six weeks too soon.’

      Sorgan grinned. ‘The nice part of this is that she’s going to pay me to keep her out of your hair.’

      Then Eleria’s adult person came out of the cave with the warrior queen Trenicia. ‘Are we almost ready, Beloved?’ Balacenia asked Zelana.

      ‘Beloved?’ Zelana asked, slightly startled.

      ‘A lot of Eleria’s been rubbing off on me,’ Balacenia replied.

      ‘She’s good at that.’

      Trenicia had joined Narasan and Sorgan, and Balacenia stepped closer to Zelana. ‘I’ve been catching a few hints that Trenicia’s becoming very attached to Narasan,’ she said quietly.

      ‘She wants him,’ Zelana replied. ‘I spoke with her about that after she and Narasan walked out on Aracia. In many ways Trenicia doesn’t think – or behave – like a woman. I made a few suggestions, and she seems to be following them.’

      ‘Do you really think she’ll catch him?’

      ‘Probably. She can be quite charming when she sets her mind to it.’ Zelana smiled. ‘It might sound a bit peculiar, but I’ve noticed over the years that women who want to catch a man use themselves as bait. I don’t know if Trenicia’s managed to hook Narasan yet, but it probably won’t take her much longer.’ Then Zelana yawned. ‘Sorry,’ she said. ‘I’m getting to the point that I can barely keep my eyes open.’

      ‘I’m sure that this silly war will end very soon,’ Balacenia said, ‘and when it does, Eleria and I’ll take you home and put you to bed.’ Then she paused and her expression suddenly became very, very familiar. ‘Won’t that be neat?’ she said, using one of Eleria’s favorite remarks.

      Zelana laughed and took her alternate in her arms. ‘Eleria calls this a “hug”,’ she explained.

      ‘Yes,’ Balacenia agreed, ‘and now I see why she likes them so much. Any time you feel like hugging, Beloved, I’ll be right here.’ Zelana laughed, and then she yawned again.